Edo governor: Criminals recruited from other states for local crime

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has accused individuals within the state of recruiting criminals from other parts of Nigeria to carry out activities like kidnapping and armed robbery.

Addressing participants at the 2026 Ministers’ Conference organized by the Edo Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Okpebholo stated that while insecurity is a real issue, many reports circulating on social media are fabricated. He cited an instance where a report of an incident along Sapele Road was investigated and found to be untrue.

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Our people now recruit criminals to help them do the job, they will kidnap somebody and hand over to the people in the bush.

"Our people now recruit criminals to help them do the job, they will kidnap somebody and hand over to the people in the bush," the governor said. He questioned the source of wealth for individuals involved, noting that some drive expensive cars and build houses, attributing their success to illicit activities often disguised as "Yahoo Boys."

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Some reports on insecurity are just to bring this government down, to give this government a bad name but it’s not that there is no insecurity, the false alarms are another issue in this country.

Okpebholo also addressed concerns about false alarms regarding insecurity, suggesting they are intended to damage his government's reputation. He assured that volunteers are positioned in forests to prevent criminals from establishing a presence in Edo. The governor also requested prayers for President Bola Tinubu, endorsing the fuel subsidy removal as a necessary decision that has spurred infrastructural development across the state.

During the conference, Pastor Margaret Agbonifo, chairperson of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Edo, lauded the governor's commitment and thanked God for Nigeria's continued existence despite challenges. Alfred Agbonlahor, vice chairman of CAN in Edo, commended the governor for ongoing construction work on the Benin-Sapele Road.

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Nigeria is alive today is to the glory of God. Thank God for showing us mercy, the enemy doesn’t want to hear the name Nigeria again but by the mercy of God, we shall overcome all our current challenges.